Indie filmmakers, beards and bloggers

Austin-based filmmakers Sam Wainwright Douglas and Geoff Marslett came to Houston to present Slacker 2011 at the MFAH several nights ago. This is an omnibus project: the Austin Film Society invited filmmakers to submit an idea for a short that would become part of a feature-length compilation paying homage to Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking Slacker. Astonishingly, Slacker marked its 20th anniversary last year.

Slacker 2011 features wildly divergent segments by 24 filmmakers. It is currently being shown statewide via the Texas Independent Film Network, with screenings coming up at the Violet Crown in Austin (Feb 21), Texas State University in San Marcos (Feb 22), San Antonio’s Santikos Bijou (Feb 28), and at Texas A&M in College Station (Mar 29). TIFN circuits films to venues across Texas throughout the year, and is a program of the Austin Film Society, www.austinfilm.org . Additionally, SXSW has just announced a screening of Slacker2011 at the palatial Paramount on March 13: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/ .

Sam Douglas grew up in Houston and we were pleased to welcome him back to the museum, where he’s previously presented his docs about the Holy Modal Rounders and the visionary architect, Samuel Mockbee. His red beard is the stuff of legend, and seemed to be a bit trimmed for the occasion. Definitely shorter than the version he sports in his segment of Slacker2011. He always has multiple film projects working at once, with more details available at www.bigbeardfilms.com .

For me, Geoff Marslett served up the freakiest part of Slacker 2011. You just have to see it. Geoff’s amassed an impressive filmography including shorts and his acclaimed feature Mars with which he toured film festivals around the globe. Another multitasker, he was an extra and a double on the Coens’ True Grit, teaches at UT (ncluding 16mm, close to my heart!), imminently departs to teach in Lisbon and is editing a new feature. Recently clean-shaven, he shared that the tale of his former beard is chronicled in “bumpers” that will be playing before some films at SXSW. More about him can be found at www.swervepictures.com .

Accompany Geoff for his quick Houston visit was Lauren Modery, a writer and blogger www.hipstercrite.com who was named “Austin’s Blogger of the Year” in 2011. She intimated that we may soon be reading her on Culturemap Houston too. Lauren, you are my new role model!